Domestic And Farm Flora & FaunaInChandler Township

Please do not copy the photos on this site, many of which have been submitted by private individuals... just come back and visit the site often to view the photos.

9 March 1910 ~ The Petoskey Record

Bud and his Mother Connie Gallop's White Faced Herefords

Chandler Township had "free range" for cattle for many years which meant the farmer's cattle could roam for grazing purposes wherever the farmer allowed. The cattle in the photo below belonged to Bud and his mother Connie Gallop, who always had white faced herefords. Marion Mackie Wood's diaries often told of hunting for their own cattle, and also of Bud hunting for his cattle, which really roamed the countryside. The diaries also told of rustlers stealing Bud's cattle, or of killing a cow or two and taking the good meat. The farm dogs were often a big help in rounding up the cattle, and helping to drive the cattle home, whether on the road or through trails and paths through the woods. I can remember of the cattle being in the road just like in this picture below, and my folks trying to drive through the herd while the cattle were in the middle of the roadway... those were the situations when I found the necessity of the cow call: EEEEEEEEEEEEYAAAAAAAAAA yelled out the window. Only then did the cows seem aware enough to move out of the road, so the vehicle could manage to get through the herd. ~ Karla Howard Buckmaster

Connie and Bud Gallop's White Faced Herefords on Magee Road

The cattle were in the middle of Magee Road with Marion Mackie Wood's home just on up the road through the trees... this stretch of road was always like going through a "Tunnel of Trees". Notice the telephone pole in the field in the background. That would indicate that the above photo was taken after telephone poles were set for Chandler Hill. The insulators on the poles can be seen on the crossarms.

Dewey "Dude" & Clarabelle Fraley Bush

From a 1954 newspaper clipping about Dewy or Dewey “Dude” Bush:

PETOSKEY- Services for Mr. Bush who was killed in a tractor accident near Boyne Falls Friday afternoon will be held at 4 Monday at the Peters funeral home here. Burial will be in Greenwood cemetery.Mr. Bush had been a livestock and machinery dealer here for the last 20 years.His death occurred when a tractor he had just sold to a farmer tipped over on him, Emmet Sheriff John Kilborn reported. The sheriff said Mr. Bush was driving the tractor off a truck parked near a high bank when he apparently lost control of the machine, which tipped over on him. Lyle Starr of Petoskey, who was aiding Mr. Bush, ran to a nearby farm to get another tractor to pull the first one off the victim, but he was dead on arrival at Little Traverse Hospital. coroner Joseph Conti gave the cause of death as chest injuries.Mr. Bush came here in 1928 from Kentucky.Surviving are his wife, Clarabelle; stepfather, Lewis Lowder; brother; Jasper of Bay City; half-brother, Charles Lowder of Muskegon, and two half-sisters, Mrs. Anna Thompson of Johannesburg and Mrs. Marie Conklin of Lansing. [The rest of the clipping is missing.]Dude's family was listed on the 1910 Chandler Township Charlevoix County MI Census Records.Clarabell Fraley was listed on the 1920 and 1930 Chandler Township Census Records with her family.

Clarabelle Bush, 78

Clarabelle Bush, 78, of Boyne Falls, died March 5, 1991, at Little Traverse Division, Northern Michigan Hospitals. The former Clarabelle Fraley was born March 16, 1912, in Boyne Falls, the daughter of Oscar and Elizabeth (Sizemore) Fraley. She attended Chandler Hill School and married Dewey (Dude) Bush in the 1930’s. They made their home in Petoskey until his death in 1954. Mrs. Bush had been employed at the former Essex International Plant in Boyne City. She is survived by one brother, Robert Fraley Sr. of Boyne Falls. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Orne and Clark Fraley; two sisters, Velma Still and Bertha Howard; several nieces and nephews. Visitation will be 3-5 and 6-8 PM. Thursday at the Charles G. Parks Funeral Home. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Petoskey [MI].

Dude Bush holding horses

May 1954 ~ Clarabelle Fraley and Niece Judy Pettis with some of the farm equipment Dude sold. Dude owned this property at the corner of River Road and Howard Road near Petoskey MI.

15 May 1947 ~ Otsego County Herald Times

1 May 1954 ~ The Petoskey News and Review

Cousins Don Bush and Bob MackieANDDon Bush and Neighbor Bud Gallop

Don Bush on his pony named Pal, gave his cousin Bob Mackie a ride while they were on the farm of Don's grandparents; Howard and Marion Mackie Wood.

About 1938 ~ Don Bush on pony named Pal, with neighbor Bud Gallop on his horse

Earl "John" and Florence Padgett Eastwood ~ Centennial Farm

Earl "John" Eastwood and his horses on his farm ~ Submitted by Shawn Beeler

Eastwood's Bull ~ Submitted by Shawn Beeler

Oscar & Lizzie Sizemore FRALEY ~ Family Farms

Velma Fraley On The Right With Cats, And Unknown Boy On Left With Rabbits

Dog In Front Of Barn Of Oscar And Lizzie Fraley

Merle Fraley And Farm Cat

Merle Fraley In Front of Barn Of Oscar And Lizzie Fraley

Merle Fraley With Yoked Cattle To Pull His Sled

Oscar And Lizzie Fraley's Son Orne And Dog

Orne Fraley's Daughter Janet Fraley With Dog

Glenn & Nancy Hellman Hindbaugh Farm

16 September 2006

16 September 2006

16 September 2006

16 September 2006

16 September 2006

16 September 2006

Glenn and Nancy have a self sustaining farm with various animals, like the duck and roosters in the above photos, along with beautifully maintained vegetable and flower gardens, on 40 acres which were broken off from Karl "Cub" Howard's Farm.They have a "bee crossing" sign as a warning about the bees and their hives which produce sweet Chandler Township honey.

Albert Howard Farm

Vernard Howard and son Don on horse in front of Vernard's dad Albert Howard's barn

Karl "Cub" Howard told about his father Albert Howard that “Albert lived in the house and farmed on Magee Road on Chandler Hill. Albert bought the house, which had a homemade furnace made from blocks, from the Smithingale Family. Albert had even kept cattle when living at Hoffman Lake. He would buy as many as 45 to 50 cattle cheap in the Fall when most people did not want to winter their cattle. Albert had plenty of free pasture and acres of hay to feed the winter cattle. Then he could sell them for more in the Spring. In 1927 Karl rode his pony to help drive the family cattle from Hoffman Lake to near where the Gaylord MI Sanatorium area is to reach the sale barn. He would drive the cattle right up to US 27, past Ironton Springs, and hardly meet a car, right on to the stockyard.”

By 1924, as told in the article below, unlike Cub Howard using his pony to drive his stock to market, the stock could be hauled to market at a savings of time and money.

14 August 1924 ~ The Levering Local newspaper

Dennis & Micki Bush Howard Farm

9 September 2010 - Day of the Tractor Parade... Sunflowers To Enjoy

John & Bernice Spaniak Howard Farm

John Howard with two of his steers

John Howard riding his horse

JoAnn Howard and a Dog on the Howard Farm

JoAnn Howard and a Dog on the Howard Farm

Karl "Cub" Howard Farm

Karla Feeding The Chickens

Rex Lying In The Driveway

Albert Howard was holding his granddaughter Karla, while his grandson Rodger was standing in front of Grandma Alta Magee Howard... with the dog Rex. The photo was taken in front of the old garage on the farm of Cub Howard.

Photo Above Left: I must have been about 2 or 3 years old here when I was helping to feed the chickens, in front of the granary. The chickens always just roamed around the yard, out into the fields, and sometimes into the garden. When I grew older, and went barefoot, I remember the roaming chickens' calling cards squeezing up between my toes...YUK! Although, I suppose that was just called "Living on a farm"!

Photo Above Center: All of our early dogs were named Rex, so that was Rex lying in the rutty old driveway of our farm. My dad Karl "Cub" Howard was in the background carrying buckets to maybe feed the chickens as those buildings were (on the left) a granary, a tractor garage, and (on the right) chicken buildings. After my dad was older, he named all of his dogs Joe, and he might be heard to say when he was ready to leave, "Well, I have to go now... gotta' get home and feed Joe," even after the last Joe had died.

Photo Above Right: I must have been about 2 or 3 years old here still when my dad Cub Howard's dad, my Grandpa Albert Howard, and Grandma Alta, would come and pick Rod and me up, and take us for a visit to their farm home about 3 miles away.

~ Karla Howard Buckmaster

16 September 2006 Same driveway as in above photo with Rex

1948 ~ Rex by the driveway as usual

Photo Above Left: This is the same driveway as in the photo above with the dog Rex lying in it. All of the old buildings have been replaced with new barns and greenhouses.Photo Above Right:This 1948 photo shows Rex walking by the vehicles in the driveway. Behind the new house, was the only bathroom at that time, the outhouse, framed in the center of the photo... important!

Photo Below Left: My brother Rodger and I were so proud of the new twin calves. ~ Karla Howard Buckmaster

Karla And Rodger Howard with twin calves

Karl "Cub" Howard's cattle grazing out in his field

Martin Howard & Descendant's Farm

Martin Howard and Ash

Martin Howard and dog Old Ben in 1945

Martin's son Harold Howard and Horses

Martin's daughter Sadie Howard who married Leo Lick

Martin Howard and dog

Roscoe Howard Sr. and horse

Roscoe Howard Jr. with two dogs

Inis, Betty and Junior with dog and cat

Photo below: Chickens roaming around the yard, or wherever, on the farm is so familiar to me. I remember it well when I was young on our own farm. In the summers, when I went barefoot most of the time, I often stepped right on the chicken droppings hiding in the grass all over the yard. The poop would squash up between my toes, and about turn my stomach, just with the thought of the happening! Ahhhh, Life on the Farm! ~ Karla Howard Buckmaster

Siblings Inis Howard, with Junior holding Betty and chickens roaming in the background

Noah & Annie Sanders Howard Farm

Photo Above: Annie Sanders Howard, the wife of Noah Howard received help to feed the chickens from her granddaughter JoAnn Howard [daughter of John & Bernice Spaniak Howard].

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Noah and Annie Sanders Howard's daughter Mamie Howard married in 1916 in Otsego County MI. Mamie and Jacob Smith spent some of their years in Chandler Township because their first child Virginia "Tootie" Smith Hoatlin was born in Chandler Township in 1917. In 1908 before Jacob and Mamie were married, Jacob had lost his true and honest dog Jack to a bear. Jacob expressed the loss of his dog by writing the poem below which so aptly expresses the attachment of people to their animal pets.Jacob went on to be a conservation officer for the State of Michigan for 22 years... enjoying the great outdoors of Michigan, and its animals, both domestic and wild.

"To Jack Killed by a Bear" poem from 19 September 1908 ~ Page 1

"To Jack Killed by a Bear" poem from 19 September 1908 ~ Page 2

To JackKilled by a Bear Sept 19th 1908

Cold is your bed tonight Jackand deep the sleep that binds youso cold so deep it still will bewhen light of morning finds youfor you are dead my true and honest dog

The day has brought our parting and at the thought my heart still achesand bitter tears are starting

Every morning brought to me your gentle honest greetingbut now at night when I returnfor me there is no more greeting

Farewell my true and honest dogMy heart still aches for youWould to God I had to my master beenas true as you were to me your master

My noble honest dog farewellyour part your work on earth is doneyour part your work with me will stayas long as I behold the suna mark at your grave I will always keepto remember you in your last sleep

~ Jacob Smith

Pasture Field Across From Chandler Township HallOne of Chandler's many pastoral settings...

Notice the ducks in the background sharing the field with the long-horned steer.

On the farm of Howard and Marion Mackie Wood were many black walnut trees. Their granddaughter Marion Bush Howard planted a black walnut seed from Howard and Marion Wood's, on the farm of Cub and Marion Howard right beside the driveway. That seed has grown into the black walnut tree at the left in this 2006 photo on the farm of Dave and Eva Siegrist.

Howard & Marion Mackie Wood Farm

Howard & Marion Mackie Wood stood in front of their garage, with their chickens and cat at their feet.

Howard & Marion Mackie Wood Milking Their Cows

My Great-Grandparents Howard & Marion Mackie Wood often milked their cows, which each had a name, outside rather than inside, the barn, like in the two photos above. Great-Grandpa Wood walked long distances to bring the cattle home after they had been out wandering the hills of Chandler Township which had "free range" at the time. Free range often led to mischievous cattle that ate leeks which tainted their milk, or ate green apples which made them sick, and sometimes even made them bloat. Or, the cattle might walk through the cemeteries (before the cemeteries were fenced in) and eat the plants, or knock over the tombstones and even break them. It was helpful though, that the cattle knew where to go to "the spring" to get their water. Howard & Marion's dog named Jeff helped to bring the cattle home too. ~ Karla Howard Buckmaster

Howard & Marion Mackie Wood had had two dogs, Scott and Jeff. On 10 June 1949, however, Marion wrote to their daughter Isabelle Wood Oldham about Scott having died. "Scott died yesterday P.M. & I am very low in my mind. He was, I think, rolled by a car, a few days ago. He was so stiff & hurty & got so he’d only eat once a day, & two days ago he’d not eat at all. Howard buried him down on the flat toward the fields. He had such a nice disposition & his eyes were so soft and honest. You tell Joey [Isabelle's dog]- he will miss him when he comes up- no more delightful runs into the far places & coming back wheezing & muddy- & the everlasting scuffling in the yard. Roger Arsenau [a friend] will be sorry - he liked Scott so much and I know you’ll be sorry too. Poor Jeff was so lonesome last nite, & since Scott has been laid up Jeff has tried to take hold & do more work than he has since he retired."

Marion Mackie Wood wrote in her January 4, 1948 diary about the farm chore of butchering of a pig for winter meat: "Cub & Marion came before ten and the boys got heat up quickly & when they dipped her [the pig] the bottom nearly came out of the barrel, but finally they finished and had eaten dinner by 2. & the boys cut it in two & carried her up to the Hall [Howard and Marion were able to store meat in the hall of their house as the halls were shut off from the rest of the house and stayed so cold during the Winter that the hall was like a freezer.]. She weighed 162 lbs. cut in two; about 216 live. We got her from Cub July 28th at 6 weeks old. She lacked about 12 days of being 7 mos old-so that’s all... but eating her." Then, more mention of another butchered pig was made on December 6, 1948: "8º above-16 degrees better than yesterday. No rim of ice on the window, but a brisk wind from the south. The house may not be so cozy-today. We had flat irons to bed with us & were they all right! Me & my bed were warm in a jiffy. I may sleep up stairs all winter. I like to...The meat is like boiler iron-so hard [kept in the hallway in a trunk]. I do hope Belle’s meat gets to her tomorrow, if not before." [The meat had been sent to Belle’s home in Chicago IL as part of her Christmas gift, along with some greens from the farm area.]. And, February 7, 1949: "I brought in a 1/2 slab of side meat this morning-1 more full slab- a ham, a shoulder & two strips (1/2) of the roast cuts with ribs-a lot of meat left yet. - It thaws in the refrigerator so it’s just right to cut nicely & I don’t have to struggle with it. Much nicer than other years." Marion and Howard had just had electricity run to their house finally the previous year so they had the electric refrigerator.January 17, 1950 Marion Mackie Wood wrote: about a hen providing Marion with entertainment: "Quiet nite. No wind. 4º above-brrrh! not much snow, but slick ice under the light drift.- We take an iron up in this bitter cold. Had to cut a wide detour this morning going down to milk-so’s to avoid the slippery places - Yesterday the hen house door blew open & a hen hastily came out and started toward the barn. She went across the glare at the front of the corn crib, & as the wind was blowing like mad, she skidded & slid on her brain end several times - She persisted however & finally slipped into the opening in the big barn door & there she sat on the nest until nearly dark. She finally laid an egg-ha! I had fun watching her-"

Marion Mackie Wood wrote in her diary on November 9, 1951: "Dr. Heaton was here & cleared our herd of TB- the whole both of them!"